V2Catholic.com
A voice for the poor 
by HK prison chaplain
胡頌恆神父
Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I.
Dr Jesus Centre 187 Temple St Jordan
jdwomi@gmail.com      +852 67095674
       
Imitating Pope Francis 

My other sites/links     

Tues Nov 19

Global warming supercharging deadly weather

 

 My Gaza Prayer *** Pope urges Gaza genocide inquiry

 

Pope's new encyclical "He Loved Us"

24. All that we have said has implications for the spiritual life. For example, the theology underlying the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola is based on “affection” ( affectus). The structure of the Exercises assumes a firm and heartfelt desire to “rearrange” one’s life, a desire that in turn provides the strength and the wherewithal to achieve that goal. The rules and the compositions of place that Ignatius furnishes are in the service of something much more important, namely, the mystery of the human heart. Michel de Certeau shows how the “movements” of which Ignatius speaks are the “inbreaking” of God’s desire and the desire of our own heart amid the orderly progression of the meditations. Something unexpected and hitherto unknown starts to speak in our heart, breaking through our superficial knowledge and calling it into question. This is the start of a new process of “setting our life in order”, beginning with the heart. It is not about intellectual concepts that need to be put into practice in our daily lives, as if affectivity and practice were merely the effects of – and dependent upon – the data of knowledge. 

 

---------------------------

The Book Blog:
readings + recordings
 
Readings are from Simple Bible

Leviticus 21-23: God's words through Moses: "Regard the priests as holy, for they offer holy sacrifice. Keep the sacred festivals
- every Sabbath
- the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread
- the First Sheaf
- the Feast of Weeks
- the first day of the seventh month
- the Day of Atonement
- the Feast of Tabernacles"

Dear God, thank you for special worship days and seasons 

My recording of this reading

 

Psalms 109, 110: O God whom I praise, do not be silent, for people are bombarding me with words of hate. They speak to me with lying tongues and attack me without cause. They repay me evil for good. While I pray for them, they show me hatred. I have become an object of scorn. Help me, Lord my God. 
Lord, when people are unkind to me, please give me the grace to pray for them

Listen

 

Revelation 1.4-8: From John, to the seven churches of Asia province: grace and peace to you from him who is, who was, and who is to come, from the seven spirits at his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the First-born from the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth. Jesus Christ loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings and priests to serve his God and Father. It is he who will come on the clouds. Everyone, in every part of the world, will see him. All hearts will be moved by his coming "I am the beginning and the end", says the Lord God. "I am the originator and goal of all things"
Jesus, please help more and more people know who you are

01
02


Luke 2.9-14: Not far from where Mary had her baby, there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their sheep during the night. An angel appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The angel said "Do not be afraid.  I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by everyone. Today in the town of David, a savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. Look for a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger". Suddenly with the angel there were many other angels, praising God and singing "Glory to God in heaven, and peace to people on earth"
"O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord"

Listen

 

Reflection: The Baby in the manger (Gospel) is the Originator and Goal of all things (Rev)

 

------------------------------

 Shoe thief in Japanese kindergarden

-------------------------------

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:

Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe, Russia
Tues: South Asia  
Wed: East Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific 
Frid: South America
Sat: Cent, N America    
Jesus, today, Tuesday, please bless the people of South Asia

And praying for one part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 19th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Shanxi

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 19th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Haiti

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday, please pacify Boko Haram

----------------------------

----------------------------

Mon Nov 18

This week, Mon-Thurs, I'm due to attend annual O.M.I. in-service program at Sheung Shui, but also need to attend two court cases Tues morning, a special Rotary function Tues night, and a court hearing on Wed morning!

 

Settlers happy with Trump's "Dream Team"

 

   As I watch live coverage of the genocide in Gaza each day, and each day hear the people of Gaza cry out "why is no one helping us?" ... and see how the US is giving an ever-larger green light to Israel to increase the killings ... I ask myself "what more can I do to try to stop the slaughter?". Well, in his letter for World Day of the Poor (Nov 17), Pope Francis asked us to pray for the poor. So, I am now praying not just ordinary prayers for Gaza, but also this extraordinary prayer:

Heavenly Father, you who are most grieved when your children kill each other, in order to stop the genocide in Gaza please send a temporary illness on the Israeli military and political leadership to stop them from murdering the 400,000 people trapped in Northern Gaza without food or medical supplies. Temporary blindness? Boils and sores? Loss of sight, speech, hearing? Powerful anxiety attacks? 
.... I make this prayer in the name of your dear Son who once walked the land of Gaza and who said to ask for anything in his name. Amen!
(... and please protect all who pray this prayer so that there is no reverse curse on us!)

 

Pope's new encyclical "He Loved Us"

23. Whenever a person thinks, questions and reflects on his or her true identity, strives to understand the deeper questions of life and to seek God, or experiences the thrill of catching a glimpse of truth, it leads to the realization that our fulfilment as human beings is found in love. In loving, we sense that we come to know the purpose and goal of our existence in this world. Everything comes together in a state of coherence and harmony. It follows that, in contemplating the meaning of our lives, perhaps the most decisive question we can ask is, “Do I have a heart?”

------------------------

The Book Blog:
readings + recordings 
Readings are from Simple Bible

Leviticus 19: God's words through Moses: "Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. Honor your father and mother. The Sabbath must be a holy day. When you collect from harvest or vine, leave something for the poor and the stranger. Be just, honest and truthful in your relationships. 
Do not let hatred live in your heart".

Dear God, please help me live according to your sacred word

My recording of this reading

 

Psalm 108: My heart is ready, O God. I will sing, sing your praise. Awake, lyre and harp. I will awake the dawn. I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples, praise you among the nations, for your love reaches to the heavens and your truth to the skies. O Lord, come and deliver us today. Help us with your right hand. Give us help in difficult situations. With your help we shall be brave.
Lord, we need your help every day

Listen

 

Jude: From Jude, servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are dear to God the Father and kept safe, wishing you mercy and peace and love. I write with urgency to appeal to you: stand up for the faith that has been entrusted to us. Some false teachers have infiltrated our ranks. They reject the teaching of our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. They say "anything goes" in the area of morality. Such teaching, such people, must be opposed. Be kind to such people, but with great caution. To God who saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and all honor, now and forever
Jesus, please protect your church from false teachers

Listen


 

Luke 2.1-8: The Emperor of Rome ordered that a census be taken of the whole Empire. Every man  had to go to his home town to be registered. So Joseph set out from Nazareth in Galilee and traveled to Judea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, with his pregnant wife Mary. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her child. She gave birth to a son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a feeding box for animals, because there was no room for them at the local inn
Baby Jesus, born in Bethlehem, please bless all babies born in the world today

Listen

Reflection: "Bethlehem" means "House of Bread", the birthplace of him who said he was The Bread of Life" ... he who was laid in a feeding box for animals

-------------------------

 Last week I downloaded Google Earth ....used it years ago but have not used it for a long time. Then I searched for "Temple Street Market" and found MercyHK's canteen ....with one of my bail cases standing outside!

--------------------

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:

Sun: Africa 
Mon: Europe, Russia
Tues: South Asia  
Wed: East Asia 
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific 
Frid: South America
Sat: Cent, N. America   
  
Jesus, today, Monday, please bless the people of Europe & Russia

And praying for one part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 18th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Shandong

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month: 
On this 18th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Gambia

And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:

Jesus, today,
Monday, please pacify I.S.

-----------------------

----------------------

Sun Nov 17

21,000 Nepali, Bangladeshi and Indian workers reported to have died since the launch of Saudi Arabia's 2030 World Cup program in 2016 -in this report

 

  Israel's tepid enabler - Biden

 

Pope's new encyclical "He Loved Us" (("complicity" means USA!))
22.
For this reason, when we witness the outbreak of new wars, with the complicity, tolerance or indifference of other countries, or petty power struggles over partisan interests, we may be tempted to conclude that our world is losing its heart. We need only to see and listen to the elderly women – from both sides – who are at the mercy of these devastating conflicts. It is heart-breaking to see them mourning for their murdered grandchildren, or longing to die themselves after losing the homes where they spent their entire lives. Those women, who were often pillars of strength and resilience amid life’s difficulties and hardships, now, at the end of their days, are experiencing, in place of a well-earned rest, only anguish, fear and outrage. Casting the blame on others does not resolve these shameful and tragic situations. To see these elderly women weep, and not feel that this is something intolerable, is a sign of a world that has grown heartless.

------------------------------

The Book Blog: 
readings + recordings
 
Readings are from Simple Bible

Special readings for World Day of the Poor:

Tobit 1: Tobit was a Jewish exile living in the city of Nineveh in Assyria. Even though other Jewish exiles, even his own relatives, neglected their religion, Tobit stayed loyal to God. Tobit also cared for the poor and hungry. And he made a special practice of burying the dead.
Dear God, please help me to be like Tobit: loyal to you and caring for the poor

My recording of this reading

Psalm 41: Blessed the person who helps the poor and the weak. He himself will be helped by the Lord when he is sick and in trouble. The Lord will help him on his bed of pain. The Lord will bring him back from sickness to health. 
Lord, please help me to do more for the poor

 Listen

 

James 2.14-26: Faith and good works need to go together. Suppose someone is lacking clothes and food, and you say "I wish you well" and do nothing to help them. What good is that? Faith without good deeds is useless
Jesus, please help me put my faith into action by good deeds

 Listen


Matthew 25.31-46: Jesus said to his disciples: When I come in glory at the end of the world, all peoples of all times will be gathered in front of me. I will separate them, like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. I will place the sheep on my right, the goats on my left. I will say to those on my right "Come and enter my kingdom. For I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you made me welcome. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to see me".

Then those good people on my right will say "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you? When did we see you thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, naked and clothe you, sick or in prison, and visit you?" I will answer "Each time  you helped and cared for a poor person, you helped and cared for me".

Jesus, please help me do more for poor people. Make me understand that when I help a poor person, I help you 
 01 02 03

Reflection on the above readings:  Pope's message for 2024 World Day of the Poor

Reflection by Fr Peter: English  Chinese

-------------


Video commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and Spanish (+ Cantonese audio)

-------------------------------

Hour of Love HK radio program 8.00 pm HK time tonight - with items about HK prison inmates

-------------------------------

  To go with World Day of the Poor:
Q: What is it? .... the poor have it, the rich don't want it, and God can't do it?
A: n o t h i n g

------------------------------

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:

Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe, Russia 
Tues: South Asia  
Wed: East Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific 
Fri: South America
Sat: Cent., N America    
Jesus, today, Sunday, please bless the people of Africa

And praying for one part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 17th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Shaanxi

And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 17th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Ethiopia

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday, please bless all Muslims in my country

-----------------------

----------------------

Sat Nov 16

I spent 5 hours yesterday at Lai Chi Kok men's prison where of the 50 or 60 guys I chatted with it seemed that about one third of them are associated with Temple Street! I felt like I was visiting a whole group of my neighbours!

 

 As I watch live coverage of the genocide in Gaza each day, and each day hear the people of Gaza cry out "why is no one helping us?" ... and see how the US is giving an ever-larger green light to Israel to increase the killings ... I ask myself "what more can I do to try to stop the slaughter?". Then last night I prayed a new prayer: Heavenly Father, you who are most grieved when your children kill each other, in order to stop the genocide in Gaza please send a non life threatening illness on the Israeli military and political leadership to stop them from murdering the 400,000 people trapped in Northern Gaza without food or medical supplies. Temporary blindness? Boils and sores? Loss of speech and hearing? Extra powerful anxiety attacks? I make this prayer in the name of your dear Son who once walked the land of Gaza and who said to ask for anything in his name. Amen!

 

Australia backs UN resolution re sovereignty of Palestinians over natural resources ((this is good news!))

 

Pope's new encyclical "He Loved Us"

21. This profound core, present in every man and woman, is not that of the soul, but of the entire person in his or her unique psychosomatic identity. Everything finds its unity in the heart, which can be the dwelling-place of love in all its spiritual, psychic and even physical dimensions. In a word, if love reigns in our heart, we become, in a complete and luminous way, the persons we are meant to be, for every human being is created above all else for love. In the deepest fibre of our being, we were made to love and to be loved.

---------------------------

The Book Blog:
readings + recordings 
Readings are from Simple Bible

Leviticus 18: 
Do not marry a close relative.
Do not have sex during time of menstruation.
Do not practise sodomy. 
Do not have sex with an animal

Dear God, please help us to respect the gift of sex

My recording of this reading

 

Psalm 107: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His great love is without end. Let them say this, those the Lord has helped, people from east and west, north and south.

Some people wandered in the desert, lost and unable to find their way to safety. In their hunger and thirst they cried to the Lord for help. He rescued them and showed them the way to safety. Let them thank the Lord for his love, for he fills the hungry with good things.

Some people were prisoners in misery and chains,  living in darkness and gloom. In their distress they cried to the Lord for help. He rescued them and restored their freedom. Let them thank the Lord for his goodness, for he shatters the iron bars of prisons.

Some people were sick on account of their sins, unable to eat,  and close to death. They cried to the Lord in their need. He healed them and saved them from the grave. Let them thank the Lord for his love, for the wonders he does for us.

Some people sailed to the sea in ships and were caught in terrifying storms. They cried to the Lord in their need and he calmed the sea and wind. Let them thank the Lord for his love, for the wonders he does for us.

Whoever is wise should meditate on these things and reflect on the love of the Lord. 

Thank you Lord, for your rescuing love

01 02 03 04

 

3 John: From the Elder to my dear friend Gaius. People have told me of your faithfulness to the truth. It is always a great joy for me when I hear that my children are living according to the truth. Thank you for your hospitality to believers who travel to spread the Good News. Such people deserve whatever support we can give them
Jesus, please bless people who travel to spread the Good News

Listen

 

 

Luke 1.67-80: When John was named, his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and said "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel. He has visited his people. And you, little child, you shall be called a prophet of the Most High. You will go before the Lord to prepare a way for him". When John grew older, he lived in the wilderness until the time came for him to begin his ministry. 
Jesus, please help me prepare your way by helping people to know you

Listen


Reflection: Psalm 107 has four Ds which can be used to describe all the trials of human life: Desert, Detention, Death, Danger!

-----------------------

  Guangzhou: It's still Summer

------------------------------

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:

Sun: Africa          
Mon:
Europe, Russia           
Tues:
South Asia  
Wed: East Asia                         
Thurs:
S.E. Asia, Pacific 
Frid: South America                   
Sat: Cent. & N America    
Jesus, today, Saturday, please bless the people of Central & North America

And praying for one part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 16th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Qinghai

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 16th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Malawi

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday, please pacify the Taliban

------------------------

------------------------

Fri Nov 15

Just after Typhoon Signal No. 8 was replaced by No. 3 yesterday morning, Cardinal John Tong kindly phoned to say he could go ahead at 12 noon with Plan A for the blessing of MercyHK's new day care shelter for homeless people at 192 Shanghai Street ... and the blessing went ahead, followed by a buffet lunch at the centre ... a very simple but very happy activity .... photos and reports to come in the coming week or so. God bless the Cardinal! 

 

 Owen Jones: Israel - no red line *** Israel's crimes against humanity

 

Pope's new encyclical "He Loved Us"
20.
In this age of artificial intelligence, we cannot forget that poetry and love are necessary to save our humanity. No algorithm will ever be able to capture, for example, the nostalgia that all of us feel, whatever our age, and wherever we live, when we recall how we first used a fork to seal the edges of the pies that we helped our mothers or grandmothers to make at home. It was a moment of culinary apprenticeship, somewhere between child-play and adulthood, when we first felt responsible for working and helping one another. Along with the fork, I could also mention thousands of other little things that are a precious part of everyone’s life: a smile we elicited by telling a joke, a picture we sketched in the light of a window, the first game of soccer we played with a rag ball, the worms we collected in a shoebox, a flower we pressed in the pages of a book, our concern for a fledgling bird fallen from its nest, a wish we made in plucking a daisy. All these little things, ordinary in themselves yet extraordinary for us, can never be captured by algorithms. The fork, the joke, the window, the ball, the shoebox, the book, the bird, the flower: all of these live on as precious memories “kept” deep in our heart.

-------------------
The Book Blog:
readings + recordings 
Readings are from Simple Bible

Leviticus 16-17: Instructions for the annual Day of Atonement: Once a year Aaron or his successor must wear special vestments and enter the sanctuary  past the veil. Then he is to offer two goats to pray for atonement for the whole community of Israel. One goat will be sacrificed in the Temple; the other is to be set free to go out into the desert - a symbol of the people's sins being carried away. 
(this story gives us the English word: "scapegoat")
Dear God, please forgive us, and help us to forgive others

My recording of this reading

 

Psalm 106: O give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His great love is without end. They are happy who do what is right, who at all times remember what is just. When our ancestors came out of Egypt,
they forgot the greatness of God's love. Each time they strayed, God forgave them. But still they continued to forget God who was their saviour, God who had done such great things for them in Egypt.

O Lord, our God, please don't let us forget your love

Listen

 

2 John: In our life of truth and love, we have grace, mercy and peace from God the Father
and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father. I write not to give you any new commandment,
but the one we were given at the beginning: let us love one another; let us live a life of love. Keep to what Jesus taught. Don't follow anyone who changes what Jesus taught
Jesus, please protect me from people who distort your message

Listen


 

Luke 1.46-56: Mary said "My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior. Starting from today, all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me". Mary stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months and then went home. Elizabeth gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives shared her joy. When the child was circumcised on the 8th day, he was given the name John.
Jesus, please bless all women who are having a baby today

Listen

Reflection: Mary deflected praise from herself to the Lord, realising that her greatness came from the Lord, just like the moon owes its brightness to the sun

----------

 The fork, the joke, the window, the ball, the shoebox, the book, the bird, the flower ... in Pope's letter, above!

-------------------------

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:

Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe, Russia        
Tues:
South Asia  
Wed: East Asia            
Thurs:
S.E. Asia, Pacific 
Frid: S. America     
Sat:
Cent, N. America    
Jesus, today, Friday, please bless the people of South America

And praying for one part of the Mainland each day of the month: 
On this 15th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Liaoning

And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries each day of the month: 
On this 15th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Liberia

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday, please bless all Muslims

----------------------------

----------------------------

Thu Nov 14

Today Cardinal John Tong was due to bless MercyHK's new day centre for street sleepers at 192 Shanghai Street. But since Signal No. 8 is due to be in force until at least 10am, therefore the blessing has been rescheduled to Nov 26

 

JAMM Channel report on MercyHK's canteen in Temple Street

 

 UN condemns Gaza crimes

 

Pope's new encyclical "He Loved Us" ((I think Mary herself would find this hard to understand....Oh for simple ideas and simple language!))

19. The heart is also capable of unifying and harmonizing our personal history, which may seem hopelessly fragmented, yet is the place where everything can make sense. The Gospel tells us this in speaking of Our Lady, who saw things with the heart. She was able to dialogue with the things she experienced by pondering them in her heart, treasuring their memory and viewing them in a greater perspective. The best expression of how the heart thinks is found in the two passages in Saint Luke’s Gospel that speak to us of how Mary “treasured (syneterei) all these things and pondered (symballousa) them in her heart”.  The Greek verb symballein, “ponder”, evokes the image of putting two things together (“symbols”) in one’s mind and reflecting on them, in a dialogue with oneself. In Luke 2:51, the verb used is dieterei, which has the sense of “keep”. What Mary “kept” was not only her memory of what she had seen and heard, but also those aspects of it that she did not yet understand; these nonetheless remained present and alive in her memory, waiting to be “put together” in her heart.

------------------------- 

The Book Blog:
readings + recordings
 
Readings are from Simple Bible

Leviticus 13-15: Instructions for hygiene: People with skin diseases, suspected leprosy, boils and burns should be carefully examined and isolated if necessary. The clothing and homes of people with leprosy should be put out of use. During and after seminal or illness discharges and menstruation, people should show extra concern for hygiene 
Dear God, please help me take good care of my health

My recording of this reading

 

Psalm 105: Give thanks to the Lord, make known his deeds among all the peoples. O sing to him, sing his praise. Tell all his wonderful works. Be proud of his holy name. Let hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. Consider the Lord and his strength. Constantly seek his face. Never forget how the Lord has helped us in the past, how he has protected Israel from its beginning till now.
Dear God, please help me understand how you have been loving and protecting me since the beginning of my life

Listen

 

 

1 John 4.20 - 5.13: Anyone who says "I love God" but hates his brother, is a liar. A man who does not love the brother he can see cannot love God whom he has never seen. Who can overcome the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. You who believe in the Son of God have eternal life
Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God

Listen

 


Luke 1.39-45:
As soon as she could and as quickly as she could, Mary went to Elizabeth's home in the hills near Jerusalem. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in Elizabeth's womb jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth said to Mary "Of all women, you are the most blessed, and blessed is the baby in your womb.  Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord?  Blessed are you for believing God's promise"
Mary, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus

  Listen

Reflection: Mary got involved, from start to finish

-----------------

 Top policeman arrested in Spain

--------------------

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day, especially for the leaders of that area:

Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe , Russia          
Tues:
South Asia   
Wed: East Asia             
Thurs:
S.E. Asia, Pacific 
Frid: South America      
Sat: Cent, N America     
Jesus, today, Thursday, please bless the people of South East Asia

And praying for one part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 14th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Jilin

And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 14th of the month,  Jesus please bless the people of Guinea Bissau

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda

----------------------------

Wed Nov 13

Yesterday I was at Tai Lam women's prison from 9am to 5.30pm .....sad as usual to meet more drug trafficking cases, local and overseas ... most of them mothers of young children... all facing around 8 or more years in prison 

 

 
I am so upset by the daily news of slaughter in Gaza - as seen on live news bulletins on the hour - that I invite dear readers to join me at 8.30pm HK time on Thursday Nov 14 for a 30-min zoom meeting to share concern about Gaza. Pls contact me at jdwomi@gmail.com for the zoom link

Please also share this poster I made:

Can print multiple copies here

 

Pope's new encyclical "He Loved Us"

18. We see, then, that in the heart of each person there is a mysterious connection between self-knowledge and openness to others, between the encounter with one’s personal uniqueness and the willingness to give oneself to others. We become ourselves only to the extent that we acquire the ability to acknowledge others, while only those who can acknowledge and accept themselves are then able to encounter others.

 -----------------------------

The Book Blog:   4 readings + recordings 
Comments welcome here     
Readings are from Simple Bible

Leviticus 11-12: The people were told which animals were "clean" and which were "unclean". Only "clean" animals were allowed to be eaten. Regulations were also made for when a woman had a baby: a lamb or two turtledoves or two young pigeons were to be offered as a prayer for mother and baby.
Dear God, please give me a clean heart

My recording of this reading

 

Psalm 104: Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are. You make the clouds your chariot. You walk on the wings of the wind. You make springs gush forth in the valleys. They give drink to all the animals of the field. You make grass grow for the cattle and plants to provide food for people. You give us wine to cheer our hearts and oil to make our faces shine. You made the moon to mark the months. The sun knows the time for its setting. How many are your works, O Lord. In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches and the sea is swarming with life. All things, great and small, look to you for food. You open your hand, they have their fill. You send forth your spirit, and life is created. You renew the face of the earth. I will sing to the Lord all my life. May my thoughts be pleasing to him. 
Bless the Lord, my soul!

01 02

 

1 John 4.7-16: Let us love one another. Love comes from God. God is love. God showed his love for us by sending his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Since God has loved us so much we should love one another. God is love. Anyone who lives in love, lives in God, and God lives in him
Jesus, you are love itself. May I live in your love

Listen

 

Luke 1.26-38: In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary who was betrothed to a man named Joseph. The angel said to her "Mary, Rejoice! You have been greatly blessed by God. You are to conceive and have a son whom you must name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of God". Mary said to the angel, "How can this happen since I am a virgin?" The angel replied "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will specially bless you. Know this too: your cousin Elizabeth has, in her old age, conceived a son, and is now in her sixth  month". "I am the handmaid of the Lord", said Mary, "let what you have said, be done for me".  And the angel left her
God the Son, thank you for becoming a baby in Mary's womb

 
01 02


Reflection on the above readings:
 Mary was around 15 years old in today's Gospel ... a Form 4 / Year 10 student!

-------------------

 Last night when I had something to eat at MercyHK"s canteen in Temple Street, customers included a man from England, a man from Australia and a woman from Germany .... "Temple Street's International Canteen"! 

-------------------------

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:

Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe, Russia         
Tues: South Asia  
Wed: East Asia      
Thurs:
S.E.Asia, Pacific 
Frid: South America    
Sat:
Cent, N America    
Jesus, today, Wednesday, please bless the people of
East Asia

And praying for people in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 13th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Jiangxi

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 13th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Congo

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today,
Wednesday, please pacify
Al-Shabaab 

-----------------------

----------------------------

   Africa: 

2020: My trip to Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg 

Jan 1, 2020: How cocaine trafficking is impacting West Africa 

2017: My trip to Southern Africa, Dubai ( The Last Run)

April 4, 2016: BBC video report (3 mins) about East African drug mules going to HK ...and my anti-drug campaign

2016: My trip to Kenya, Uganda

2015: My trip to Tanzania, Malawi

----------------

 Latin America:

     2019-05-10: No More Mules Peru FB boost 199,000 views!

 2019-01-20: Article in El Pais, Uruguay - 01 02

2018-09-18: No More Mules Facebook campaign - more than 300,000 people reached in Venezuela

2018: My trip to Latin America

----------------

 

South East Asia:

Aug 16, 2020: CNN - Indonesian women recruited to take drugs to Hong Kong

Oct 23, 2019: FM988 Breakfast program in Kuala Lumpur at which I was a guest

June 2019: My campaign featured in The Malaysia Drug Trade (6 written reports & documentary video)

2019-03-25: Eleven HK01 video and photo reports about Malaysian drug mules arrested in HK- here (one of the reports is about my anti-drug campaign).

Dec 2018 - My Jan 2019 trip to Malaysia

2018: My trip to Thailand and Cambodia

--------------------

HK-map-Asia.jpg (153861 bytes)

Hong Kong:

July 2019: My warning to HK domestic helpers - published here in HK Filipino media

 2018-09-22: My 60 min video interview with Radio99, in Cantonese, is here: 01 02 to help stop people going to prison

2018-07-29: SCMPBeware drug lords luring domestic helpers, refugees into narcotics trade

2018-04-08: The Pearl Report on TVB - concerning HK's Long Term Sentencing Review Board and my anti-drug campaign 

March 18, 2018: South China Morning Post report on my work

2017-09-27: SCMP Spirit of HK Awards (video starts after 20 secs)

2017-08-24: Cable TV video report on my anti-drug campaign and a Facebook report on the video report (click "translation" for English)

2017-05-17: SCMP - The prison chaplain who has stopped 150 drug mules reaching HK

2017-03-25: Oriental Daily report of case of South African woman given discount for help to my campaign *** May 14 updates: Oriental DailySing Tao

Dec 1, 2016 - HK News: More women being recruited as drug mules

2016-10-13: HK01 report about campaign and about work for the poor

2016-09-11: Oriental Daily report about my campaign - and same day Editorial

2016-08-27: Oriental Daily article about court case and campaign

July 16, 2017: Stay away - letter writing by South American inmates in HK is deterring drug trafficking, says prison chaplain

----------------------

My anti-drug campaign sites 
(skillfully managed by kind HK friends):

www.voiceforprisoners.org 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomasmulas/

Facebook: Chinese no more mules page

http://hkdrugblog.org/name-and-shame/index.htm

----------------------

Photos from my time in China 2001-20008

Other photos 1957 to present

---------------------

Best of Smiles

Classics

---------------------

On revolving map:

Left click bottom right silver button

Left click country

Left click state/province

....till you find your city/town !

 

Left click this table of flags for details of hits on this main page 

free counters          
Table shows location of readers:
HK 33%;  Australia 19%;  UK 11%;  US  12%;  Canada 4% ; Tanzania 4%


This website was launched  in construction mode in Hong Kong on November 20, 2011 - the Feast of Christ the King. The official launching  was held on the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20, 2012. Map and Flag Counter began Feb 11, 2012.  Previous visits 4,932. Note: counter on this page + Map & Flag Counter record visits only to this main/index page. Visits to other pages and to Facebook page are not recorded. This site's 2017 statistics. Thank you for checking this website each day. God bless all readers and bloggers!                          counter for tumblr    

                    omiredcross.jpg (14845 bytes)

 Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡 頌 恆 神 父   
 jdwomi@gmail.com  HK mobile  +852- 67095674 
PO Box 74013 Kowloon Central Post Office, Hong Kong  
                     

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .


Powered by w3.css